Zoo Taiping & Night Safari or officialy Taman mergastua Sultan Idris Shah is run by the Taiping Municipal Council. It is located in the famous Taiping Lake Garden in Taiping, in the State of Perak.

In 1961, the elected members of the then Taiping Town Council, approached the Chief Minister of Perak to submit a proposal on the establishment of the zoo in the Taiping Lake Gardens in order to attract tourists to this town. A 5 hectare site was set aside for this purpose with an intial budget of RM50,000.00.

With the encouragement given by the Perak State Government and the Chief Game Warden of Peninsular Malaysia, the zoo was established in 1962. The zoo was officially opened by His Royal Highness Paduka Seri Sultan Idris Al-Mutawakil Alallahi Shah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Iskandar Shah Kaddasullah, the Sultan of Perak on 7 March 1964 and named after him as Taman Mergastua Sultan Idris Shah.

Prior to 1993 the zoo had been increased to in size to 10 hectares and a master plan for its development prepared. In 1993 the zoo was enlarged to its current size of 14 hectares and the master plan was updated taking into consideration the increased size and current development in zoo design. The early 1990’s saw the zoo being given priority in its development. The master plan for its development was implemented in stages and financial support from the Federal Government was obtained. Modern enclosures have been constructed in the zoo and together with its existing natural setting the zoo is one of the more naturalistic zoo’s in the country.